United Nations Commission of Inquiry on Syria: Ensuring Accountability in the Face of Impunity

The United Nations Commission of Inquiry on Syria has made significant progress in documenting war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by all parties involved in the conflict. However, its mandate is set to expire in 2021, leaving a pressing need for continued international support.

Importance of Continued Efforts

Representatives from Canada, Costa Rica, Germany, Australia, and Qatar have expressed their unwavering support for the Mechanism, emphasizing its importance in ensuring accountability for serious international crimes committed during the Syrian conflict. They highlighted that:

• Impunity must not be allowed to become a way of life
• Continued efforts are necessary to document and prosecute these crimes

Protecting Victims and Witnesses

The representatives also noted that the Mechanism’s confidential nature is essential to protect victims and witnesses, and that any suggestion that international scrutiny of serious violations of international law is inconsistent with principles of sovereignty and non-interference undermines the purpose and spirit of the Charter of the United Nations.

Country Perspectives

Each country representative shared their unique perspective on the importance of the Mechanism:

• Canada: Has welcomed 73,000 Syrian refugees since 2015, and emphasized that their experiences have been “woven into the very fabric of my country”.
• Costa Rica: Emphasized the importance of a gender perspective in ensuring justice for victims of grave human rights violations.
• Germany: Commended Assistant Secretary-General Marchi-Uhel for her impartiality and stressed that the magnitude of crimes committed by the Syrian regime cannot go unaddressed.
• Australia: Expressed unwavering support for the Mechanism, emphasizing that there is no prospect for credible, lasting peace without justice.
• Qatar: Stressed the importance of ensuring accountability to prevent the commission and repetition of crimes against humanity, and called for the provision of humanitarian assistance to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people.

Conclusion

The representatives emphasized the need for continued international support for the Mechanism and underscored that impunity must not be allowed to become a way of life. As the mandate approaches its expiration date, it is crucial that the international community remains committed to ensuring accountability for serious international crimes committed during the Syrian conflict.